An Cumann Gaelach wins Best Large Society and Best Overall Society Awards

Mar 14, 2014

Winning society An Cumann Gaelach with Niamh Ní Chróinín (centre) Chairperson of Cumann Gealach, who won Best Individual

An Cumann Gaelach won Best Large Society and Best Overall
Society at the recent annual Central Societies Committee (CSC) Society of the
Year Awards.

The Society was recognised for its contribution to campus
life with the number and variety of activities, projects and events organised
throughout the year. For the love of the Irish language the society works to
strengthen Gaeilge in Trinity and to ensure that more staff and students have
an opportunity to attend events and get involved with the Irish Language.

Among
the extensive number of events the society held this year were Éigse na
Tríonóide, the annual Trinity Irish Festival; Ciorcal Comhrá, a weekly conversation
circle in Seomra na Gaeilge; An Tóstal, a gathering of past members held as
part of The Gathering and Bliain na Gaeilge; and Cúrsa Yóg, a six week yoga course. The society
also established an online debating forum, Fóram Díospóireachta.

Niamh Ní Chróinín, Chairperson of Cumann Gealach, won Best
Individual for her role in the society. In conjunction with the St Vincent de
Paul Society (SVP) and Voluntary Tuition Programme (VTP) she founded the
society’s Club na Gaeilge, an Irish Homework club where Cumann Gaelach members
travelled each week to local schools to help disadvantaged children with their
Irish homework. Niamh established ties
internationally with two universities in the United States, pairing society
members with American students studying Irish, creating a thriving pen pal
system. She also initiated a plan to start a series of Leaving Certificate
instructional videos to help students with their Irish oral exams.

The Society for International Affairs won (SoFIA) Best New
Society. SoFIA was set up in 2013 to
promote the discussion of diplomacy and diplomatic affairs. In its first year SoFIA
has made a significant impact in College organising a diplomat speaker series,
Model United Nations (MUN) workshops, career guidance clinics and hosting events
almost every week. SoFIA also represented Trinity in delegations at international
University Model United Nations sessions including, OxIMUN (Oxford), LIMUN,
ScotMUN (Scotland) and FinMUN (Helsinki). The society has successfully appealed
to broad audience and gives visibility to current international affairs,
providing a platform for discussion and networking through its many varied
events.

An Cumann Gaelach, Niamh Ní Chróinín and SoFIA will represent
Trinity at the Board of Irish College Society (BICS) National Society of the
Year Awards in Queen’s University on April 10thin their winning
categories.

The CSC awards students who have put great effort into
fulfilling the aims of their societies, providing a service to their members
while adding significantly to the Trinity experience. The CSC is the College body that regulates
student societies, granting recognition and funding as well as overseeing
activity. Formally established in 1969, the CSC is now responsible for 110
societies covering diverse interests.